Soccer Fans- The Real Hooligans

[metallimonster]

So I live in Columbus OH and we have a team soccer team in the MLS The Crew.  Sunday they played a club team from England by the name of West Ham United.  Recently Crew fans have been getting rowdier and a couple of columnists had said that they had finally arrived as soccer fans.  Which is funny because Columbus had the first stadium built specificaly for soccer in the US.  Anyways. during Sunday's match a group of 8-10 West Ham Fans decided to go to the part of the stadium where the loudest Crew fans sit and start trouble. Long story short there were fights and people got arrested.

Here is my problem, as far as I know there has not been a brawl like this in the 10+ years the Crew have been playing.  What the hell is wrong with soccer fans abroad that they feel that they have to fight over a soccer match.  They were talking about it on the radio and someone called in and said while he lived in England he repeatedly saw people getting kicked to unconsiousness during matches. To me that is absolutley ridiculous.  Smug ass soccer fans accross the world want to talk about the brutalness of American Football but at least most football, and I'm talking about real  football, fans can heckle and give eachother shit but rarely are there huge brawls in the stands.  Besides our football is waaaaay more fun to watch.

To all you soccer fans abroad:  Why are soccer fans such hooligans and so proud of it?

[junior varsity]

American football is still a sissy sport.

Take a breather everytime the ball or player holding the ball touches the ground?

Change players because they aren't versatile or in shape enough to play offense and defense?

Specially designate one guy to kick extra points?

Steal the name touchdown and use it incorrectly?

RUGBY is where it is at.

At least soccer players run for the full 90+ minutes without constant breaks to discuss a new 'plan'. The plan should be play the damn game.

[metallimonster]

I'm not saying that soccer players aren't great athletes and I like soccer but what is wrong with it's fans?

By the way maybe some of the Memphis players should have taken breaks in the National Championship game. Maybe they could have made a free throw.

[junior varsity]

We've never been able to make free throws. This is nothing new.

[metallimonster]

We've never been able to make free throws. This is nothing new.

Just like Ohio State can't beat SEC Teams in bowl game.  0-9 that hurts.

[OwnyTony]

By the way maybe some of the Memphis players should have taken breaks in the National Championship game. Maybe they could have made a free throw.

OOOO YOU DIRTY SOB!!!   Im still brewing from that game.  I HATE YOU MARIO CHALMERS!!!!

Im really looking forward to next season. 

Back on post....I think that the rowdy soccer fans come from the UK.  I dont watch soccer much but from what I have seen, there seems to be a higher frequency with rowdy fans that are beer drinkers instead of wine drinkers.

[KnightofNi]

Back on post....I think that the rowdy soccer fans come from the UK.  I dont watch soccer much but from what I have seen, there seems to be a higher frequency with rowdy fans that are beer drinkers instead of wine drinkers.

italians have the worst soccer hooligans.


as for the columbus fans:
the throwing streamers and smoke bombs at players taking corner kicks is low class even by my philly fan standards.
also, being part of the fan group for the yet to be philly team it was funny to hear the crew fans being labeled as "as bad as philadelphia is likely to be."
i never understood how fandom includes getting into physical altercations over a game. that's part of the reason i will never cheer for the eagles, the fans are idjits.

[metallimonster]

I agree with you that they probably go overboard and I don't think they should be allowed in if they are going to act like that.

Philly has had a bad rap since they threw snowballs at santa.

In a town where they have to have about 1,000 police officers patrol campus when Ohio State plays Michigan or any other big game to stop riots, car flippings, and couch burnings, the Crew Fans are not the worst of the bunch.

[junior varsity]

so far we don't have that problem at Memphis. UAB fans however cannot spell, and do throw cups filled with urine when upon losing a close game.



With a tough street life, Memphis area teachers have found ways to get students to learn. Sometimes this carries over to outside-the-classroom spelling lessons.

[teddy037.2]

it seems that football hooliganism is more akin to simple gang violence... you got your colors, they got theirs, and you go out there to prove you're 'better' than them. I doubt it has much to do w/the game itself, aside from gameday serving as a schedule to get drunk and belligerent.

montreal fans rioted when they beat boston this year in the playoffs... WTF??? they... won... and tore their own town up.


oh, and +1 on football/futbol/whatever and rugby totally pwning american football 

[c_rex]

At least soccer players run for the full 90+ minutes without constant breaks to discuss a new 'plan'. The plan should be play the damn game.

As for fan outbursts-   Keep in mind that elsewhere in the world soccer really is the most widely played sport.  Many of those places don't have other sports to play or teams to which they can show their loyalty.  Teams typically consist of the best players from each "village" and there's a pride that goes along with that.  Consider too that the professional (regional) teams consist of those players percolated upward and pride follows along with those players.  The players can have status as high or higher than rock stars.  The traditions run deeper and longer than most of our sports, hooliganism is one of those.  It's why some matches have soldiers rather than security guards.  The demographic for these fans is fairly obvious but still you can get in arguments with little old ladies about who the best coach for the local team is.  She might even punch you in the gut.

[Wolverine]

italians have the worst soccer hooligans.

Maybe now, I can't say no.
But Hooligans are from the U.K. and still in the recent past they were the worst ones, real gangs. Now, in the U.K. they improved the security of the stadiums tightening up the laws against these kinds of events. So the Hooligans are a bit frustrated and they can vent on the other side of the Ocean... 

Unfortunately in Italy is still not the same, we improved something, but we are still in a mess...

[KnightofNi]

Maybe now, I can't say no.
But Hooligans are from the U.K. and still in the recent past they were the worst ones, real gangs. Now, in the U.K. they improved the security of the stadiums tightening up the laws against these kinds of events. So the Hooligans are a bit frustrated and they can vent on the other side of the Ocean... 

Unfortunately in Italy is still not the same, we improved something, but we are still in a mess...

as long as i see fires in the stands i don't believe that italy has done much.

keeping the public out of games for a few weeks is not enough.


some fan clubs are more like gangs than fans. (worldwide, not just in one particular country)

[Mother]

 

have any of you actually played both sports?

in highschool/college?

two completely different concepts

I don't care how much of an "athlete" you think you may be

but after getting hit by a 6' 4", 300+ pound Guard who wants to remove your insides by reaching through your chest with his head

you need a make the beast with two backsing breather

[jdubbs32584]

have any of you actually played both sports?

in highschool/college?

two completely different concepts

I don't care how much of an "athlete" you think you may be

but after getting hit by a 6' 4", 300+ pound Guard who wants to remove your insides by reaching through your chest with his head

you need a make the beast with two backsing breather

Us soccer players get hit too, just not by huge guys. But then again, the only protection we have is shin guards and those sure as hell didn't keep me from breaking a leg.

Its ok. They're different games. Different standards, different types of athletes involved.